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Covid therapy derived from a llama named Fifi showed “significant potential” in early trials.
This is a treatment made up of “nanobodies”, small, simpler versions of antibodies, which llamas and camels naturally produce in response to infection.
Once the therapy has been tested in humans, scientists say, it could be given as a simple nasal spray – to treat and even prevent early infection.
Professor James Naismith described the nanobodies as “fantastically exciting”.
Professor Naismith, who is a principal investigator and director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute in Oxfordshire, explained that coronavirus-infected rodents treated with the new nanobody nasal spray made a full recovery within six days.
The treatment has so far only been tested in these laboratory animals, but Public Health England has said it is among the “most effective SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing agents” it has ever had. tested.
This apparent covid-fighting power comes from the strength with which nanobodies bind to the virus.
Just like our own antibodies, virus-specific nanobodies attach and bind to viruses and bacteria that invade our bodies. This binding essentially marks an invading virus with an immune “red flag”, to allow the rest of the body’s immune arsenal to target it for destruction.
The nanobodies these researchers have produced – with the help of a llama’s immune system – bind particularly tightly.
“This is where we got help from Pippi the ‘Franklin [Institute] lama ‘”, explained Professor Naismith.
By vaccinating Fifi with a small, non-infectious piece of the viral protein, the scientists stimulated her immune system to make the special molecules. The scientists then carefully selected and purified the strongest nanobodies in a Fifi blood sample; those that most closely match the viral protein, such as the key that best matches a specific lock.
The team was then able to grow large amounts of specially selected and most potent molecules.
Professor Naismith told BBC News: “The immune system is so wonderful that it always does better than we can – evolution is hard to beat.”
University of Manchester immunologist Professor Sheena Cruickshank said the new development was “exciting but still quite early.”
“We need more data on efficacy and safety before moving on to human trials,” she added. “However, it is nonetheless very promising and the fact that it is cheaper and easier to administer is a plus. Unfortunately, Covid-19 will be with us for some time to come, so more treatments will be needed.”
Professor Naismith and colleagues, who published their research in the journal Nature Communications, agreed that even with the success of Covid vaccines, having effective treatments in the future would be very important.
“Not everyone is vaccinated at the same rate,” he said, “and there remains a risk that new variants capable of bypassing vaccine immunity will emerge.”
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